Rafaela Ochoa Lara, age 83, from Milpitas, CA, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2021 at Stanford Hospital, Palo Alto, CA.
Rafaela was born in Michoacan, Mexico on June 16, 1937. In 1966 she immigrated with her husband to the United States. After spending several years in Modesto, CA, she moved and raised her young children to adulthood in Redwood City, CA. In 2002 she relocated to Milpitas, where she lived for the remainder of her life. One of her proudest moments was becoming a US Citizen in 1993. She retired from the Woodside Senior Retirement Center in Redwood City in 1996.
Rafaela truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures. She loved social gatherings, having conversations with family and friends, and going to the Milpitas Senior Center. She also enjoyed cooking, going to family functions and vacations, and playing dress-up with her great-granddaughter. More importantly, she was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother (“Nana”), who lived to spend time with her children and grandchildren. She was a devout Catholic who enjoyed going to mass and reading her bible and Novenas daily.
Rafaela had a vivacious personality with an ability to make those around her feel a warm embrace through the sparkle of her eyes. Her beautiful smile would light up your soul, with unconditional love and a caring heart. She had an energy about her, and with just one encounter you would remember her for life. Her zest for life cannot be expressed through words alone, and the memories will live in our hearts, and belly laughs. Although our hearts are heavy, we will celebrate her life and find comfort that her love lives on in all of us.
“Until we meet again…love you too much!”
Rafaela was a strong matriarch and had been a major presence in the lives of her large family--This gentle, loving, caring, daughter, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother has left a permanent mark etched on our hearts. She will be missed by her daughters; Maria Blanco (Cesar), Griselda Olivera (Ted), Bertha Alicia Lara, Lupita Lara, Sonia Liberati (Marco), and her son Ignacio Lara (Veronica). In addition, by her grandchildren; Alex, Vanessa, Sandy, Andres, Brittney, Bianca, Sean, Roberto, Ivan, Isaac, Kathelina, and great-granddaughter Kattaleya. Also is survived by brothers, Atanacio, Ramon, Gabriel, and sisters Angelita and Maria, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS, THE IN-PERSON FUNERAL SERVICES ARE LIMITED TO THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY. HOWEVER, SERVICES WILL BE STREAMED LIVE VIA ZOOM.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021
• Rosary: 7:00pm,
Via Zoom - Meeting ID: 478 490 2417 / Passcode: Ochoa
The following funeral services will be held at the Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park, San Jose, CA:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021
• Viewing: 1:00pm-2:00pm at “Chapel of Oaks”,
Via Zoom - Meeting ID: 478 490 2417 / Passcode: Ochoa
• Catholic mass: 2:00pm-3:00pm at “Chapel of Oaks”, officiated by Father Rudy,
Via Facebook live-streaming: https://www.facebook.com/OakHillFuneral
• Burial: 3:00pm-3:45pm at “The Guadalupe Cemetery” location,
Via Zoom - Meeting ID: 478 490 2417 / Passcode: Ochoa
The family is in the process of establishing a scholarship foundation in her honor, as “The Rafaela Ochoa Lara Memorial Scholarship”, to support single mothers wanting to pursue a college education. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made to the scholarship in her honor. If you wish to contribute, please send any monetary contributions via Venmo to www.venmo.com/Rafaela-OchoaLara or “@Rafaela-OchoaLara”.
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